WOMEN EMPOWERMENT IN PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS OF FOOD SECURITY IN SEVEN COMMUNITIES OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF SAN JOSE DE CUSMAPA, MADRIZ, 2006 - 2008

Abstract

This study was conducted in seven communities at San Jose; Cusmapa municipality, located in the North part of the country, in Madriz department, 34 kilometers southwest from Somoto, the main city of the department, and 274 km North apart from Managua, Republic of Nicaragua. This research aims to analyze the main social factors that influence the level of empowerment of women in programs and projects Rural Development Food Security implemented in seven communities in San José Cusmapa municipality. The methodology was implemented in three phases: first phase consisted of selecting the unit of analysis and study population comprised of St. Joseph County communities of Cusmapa: San Francisco de Imire, Angel 1, Angel 2, El Mamey, The Llanitos, The Marker and The Apante, these communities were chosen because they are the ones who worked with programs and projects for food security and nutrition in the Borough, for selecting the sample of subjects using the sampling rate, the literature review consisted of collection and treatment information based on the same research interests. The second phase consisted of the collection, processing and information analysis, the lifting of the primary data was conducted through community workshops, interviews, observation, problem tree, key informants and local characterization, to process raw data obtained output tables were designed to group information according to the variables proposed sorting, analysis of information to the placing of the communities in stages of levels of empowerment. The third phase consisted of preparing the final report, which compose a first draft, a second draft that allowed validation and make appropriate corrections for final reporting. The analysis of social factors that influence the level of empowerment of women allowed the location of each of the communities in stages: Stage I optimal Empowerment, II Stage with opportunity for Empowerment, with limited Stage III Empowerment and Stage IV with extreme limitations for empowerment, this according to the social-cultural characteristics of communities. The organization, training, communication and participation in the communities are factors that limit the decision-making in matters which threaten the development of families. It is recommended that interaction between institutions to strengthen actions for community development work the issue of organizational development agency and community level, creating networks that will enable the community to be self-managed. Training should be based on the effective participation of community in order to allow medium and long term technical implementation of food security.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5377/calera.v11i17.778

La Calera Vol.11 No.17, p.55-63